Penn State to research adding more emergency phones

By TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

In the interest of increased safety, research on the construction of more blue-light emergency phones on campus is underway.

The Undergraduate Student Government will work on the project in conjunction with other groups, fraternity Senator James Hornick said.

Currently, there are 16 blue-light phones along campus sidewalks and 19 blue-light phones in the three parking decks, said Don Reed, Penn State Police Services security systems specialist.

The first blue lights appeared on campus in the late 1970s and more have been added gradually over the years, said Dwight Smith, Penn State police supervisor.

"It's an ongoing process with lighting and emergency phones," Smith said. "We're always looking for new places they might be needed."

Reed said he would like to see more phones in larger classroom buildings such as Thomas and Willard because, other than pay phones, no phones are available after offices are closed.

"These classroom buildings get used a lot at night. If there is an emergency after hours, (students) need to get to us," Reed said.

Some students believe more blue lights are needed in dorm areas, Pattee and the science laboratories between Pollock and Curtin Roads.

"They don't really stick out at you. I've only noticed a couple on campus. There should be one in East Halls because it is the biggest residence area," Joe Forish (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said.

Others say the problem is not the number of units, but their locations.

"They seem to be on corners where there are lights anyway," Gwen Mannweiler (freshman-communications) said. "Their placement now is not very effective."

A direct correlation between crime and the use of blue phones cannot be made because Penn State police do not record the number of emergency calls. Instead, Reed believes the units act as more of a visual deterrent.

"They have been used sporadically. There have been occasions where they've been critical in responding to incidents such as fights on College Avenue or traffic accidents on Shortlidge Road," he said. "The biggest advantage is that they create an atmosphere of safety."

Any possible proposed blue lights hopefully will be ordered by the end of the semester but probably not installed until fall, Hornick said.

"A lot of people don't feel safe walking across campus," he said. "We're trying to make it a better place to live."